Messiah!
Tonight I went to UBC’s presentation of George Handel’s Messiah with some friends from Regent. Both the University Singers and the UBC Choral Union performed wonderfully! I had never heard the full oratorio so this was quite a treat. I would not like to hear it professionally with a full orchestra. Just to hear a full chior sing out the Gospel was great. The baratone’s “Behold I Tell You” and “The Trumpet Shall Sound” were two of my favorites that led wonderfully into the conclusion of “Worthy is the Lamb” and of course the moving “Amen”. The ever popular “For Unto Us” and “Hallelujah” brought me chills to hear in full chior, I can only imagine the impact of professional chior and orchestra. As with King George, the audience rose, it would be impossible not to in hearing “Hallelujah”.
During the performance I wondered if those in the chior truly grasped what they were singing. How could you sing it and remain ignorant?
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
Resources
Wikipedia: Messiah - Handel
gfhandel.org: Messiah
gfhandel.org: Messiah Libretto (the Words)
Also, the comments and discussion in Birth Control is for Wimps? has been pretty interesting and I invite you to continue dialoguing there.
Interesting blog topics. I found you via blogMad.net surfing. I will return to read more (read the last two posts as well…just don’t have a comment formed up yet)
Heh, yeah, I have a pretty broad range of interests that I talk about here.
Glad you come by!
I know what you mean >. We are doing a very old piece (Behold Your King by John W Peterson) this Easter and somehow we are so engrossed in getting it all technically right that we generally lose out in the whole meaning and intention of the piece. I had only felt the power emanated by it only when I practised at home and noticed the words and the moods it portrays.
I have not heard the Messiah in full length yet. Hope to one day. I even missed being involved nor attended the presentation when our choir did the Hallelujah Chorus. Apparently our choir director is planning the whole piece this year… oh dear… I only hope we can muster the energy to manage it! LOL
Neway, I found your blog through Technorati. Glad to have found it.
God bless!
Maeghan
I cannot imagine a church chior doing the full Messiah! That is a massive undertaking! I hope it goes well. It is such a beautiful piece.
Welcome to my blog.
Oh dear… you really think so?
Neway, forgot to tell you that the girl in the middle really looks like my colleague!! I must show it to her